Stretchable display device with connection lines in different directions between pixels

Abstract

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the display device includes a stretchable lower substrate and a plurality of first substrates disposed on the lower substrate and including a first pixel and a second pixel. The display device also includes a plurality of second substrates configured to couple first substrates adjacent to each other among the plurality of first substrates. The display device further includes a plurality of connection lines disposed on the plurality of second substrates and configured to couple the first pixel and the second pixel. The plurality of connection lines includes a plurality of first connection lines extended in a first direction, a plurality of second connection lines extended in a second direction and a plurality of third connection lines extended in a third direction. Thus, the display device may be improved in resolution and may be uniformly stretched in all directions.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A display device, comprising:
 a stretchable lower substrate; 
 a plurality of first substrates disposed on the stretchable lower substrate and including a first pixel and a second pixel; 
 a plurality of second substrates configured to couple first substrates adjacent to each other among the plurality of first substrates; 
 a plurality of connection lines disposed on the plurality of second substrates, configured to couple the first pixel and the second pixel and including a metal material, 
 the plurality of connection lines including a plurality of first connection lines extended in a first direction and electrically connecting at least one of the first pixel and the second pixel of the first substrates adjacent to each other in the first direction, a plurality of second connection lines extended in a second direction and electrically connecting at least one of the first pixel and the second pixel of the first substrates adjacent to each other in the second direction, and a plurality of third connection lines extended in a third direction and electrically connecting at least one of the first pixel and the second pixel of the first substrates adjacent to each other in the third direction; and 
 an upper insulating layer disposed between a first layer where the plurality of first connection lines and the plurality of second connection lines are disposed and a second layer where the plurality of third connection lines, 
 wherein the plurality of first connection lines and the plurality of second connection lines are disposed on a same layer, 
 wherein the plurality of third connection lines is disposed on a different layer from the plurality of first connection lines and the plurality of second connection lines, 
 wherein the plurality of first connection lines and the plurality of second connection lines contact a bottom surface of the upper insulating layer, and 
 wherein the plurality of third connection lines contacts a top surface of the upper insulating layer. 
 
     
     
       2. The display device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first substrates has either a hexagonal shape or a polygonal shape more than six sides. 
     
     
       3. The display device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first substrates has a circular shape. 
     
     
       4. The display device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein an angle between the first direction and the second direction is 60°, and 
 wherein an angle between the second direction and the third direction is 60°, and 
 wherein an angle between the third direction and the first direction is 60°. 
 
     
     
       5. The display device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein each of the first pixel and the second pixel includes a plurality of sub-pixels, and 
 wherein each of the plurality of sub-pixels includes a switching transistor, a driving transistor, a storage capacitor, and a light emitting diode. 
 
     
     
       6. The display device according to  claim 5 , wherein a drain electrode of the switching transistor is coupled to a gate electrode of the driving transistor. 
     
     
       7. The display device according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the storage capacitor includes: 
 a gate electrode of the driving transistor; 
 a first interlayer insulating layer disposed on the gate electrode of the driving transistor; and 
 an intermediate metal layer disposed on the first interlayer insulating layer. 
 
     
     
       8. The display device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of first connection lines includes first main connection lines and first sub-connection lines, 
 wherein the plurality of second connection lines includes second main connection lines and second sub-connection lines, 
 wherein the plurality of third connection lines includes third main connection lines and third sub-connection lines, 
 wherein a line resistance of the first main connection lines is lower than a line resistance of the first sub-connection lines, 
 wherein a line resistance of the second main connection lines is lower than a line resistance of the second sub-connection lines, and 
 wherein a line resistance of the third main connection lines is lower than a line resistance of the third sub-connection lines. 
 
     
     
       9. The display device according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein at least one of the first main connection lines, the second main connection lines and the third main connection lines is applied with a high-potential power or a low-potential power, and 
 wherein at least one of the first sub-connection lines, the second sub-connection lines and the third sub-connection lines is applied with a gate voltage or a data voltage. 
 
     
     
       10. The display device according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower substrate has an active area and a non-active area adjacent to the active area, and the plurality of first substrates are disposed in the active area of the lower substrate. 
     
     
       11. The display device according to  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of third substrates disposed in the non-active area of the lower substrate, and a gate driver and a plurality of pads are formed on the plurality of third substrates. 
     
     
       12. A display device, comprising:
 a ductile substrate; 
 a plurality of rigid substrates disposed on the ductile substrate and including a first pixel and a second pixel; 
 a plurality of pixels formed on each of the plurality of rigid substrates; 
 an upper insulating layer; and 
 a plurality of connection lines disposed between the plurality of rigid substrates, and coupled to the plurality of pixels and including a metal material, 
 wherein the plurality of connection lines is extended in at least three directions, 
 wherein at least one of the plurality of connection lines is disposed on a different layer from another one of the plurality of connection lines, 
 wherein the upper insulating layer is disposed between the at least one of the plurality of connection lines and the another one of the plurality of connection lines, 
 wherein the at least one of the plurality of connection lines contacts a bottom surface of the upper insulating layer, 
 wherein the another one of the plurality of connection lines contacts a top surface of the upper insulating layer, and 
 wherein the plurality of connection lines including a plurality of first connection lines extended in a first direction and electrically connecting at least one of the first pixel and the second pixel of the rigid substrates adjacent to each other in the first direction, a plurality of second connection lines extended in a second direction and electrically connecting at least one of the first pixel and the second pixel of the rigid substrates adjacent to each other in the second direction, and a plurality of third connection lines extended in a third direction and electrically connecting at least one of the first pixel and the second pixel of the rigid substrates adjacent to each other in the third direction. 
 
     
     
       13. The display device according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of rigid substrates has a polygonal shape having edges greater in number than the extension directions of the plurality of connection lines. 
     
     
       14. The display device according to  claim 12 , wherein angles between the plurality of connection lines are all the same. 
     
     
       15. The display device according to  claim 12 , wherein any one of the plurality of connection lines has a different line resistance from another one of the plurality of connection lines. 
     
     
       16. The display device according to  claim 12 , wherein the ductile substrate has a ductile breaking rate of 100% or more,
 wherein the ductile breaking rate is defined as a ratio between an extension distance and an original length of an object, and 
 wherein the extension distance refers to a distance at which the object either breaks or cracks when it is stretched.